Hello Everyone~
Just so you all know that I am safe, I did make it to Santiago de Compostela and am at my hostel about ready to pass out. I slept for maybe 20 minutes on the bus ride because I was so interested in the book I was listening to on my ipod and cause I was enjoying the chance to see the different types of land that we were going through. I am continuously surprised by how similar the weather and different terrains are to California. There are times where I feel like I am in Santa Cruz, others Huntington or Mammoth, and still others where I feel like I am in Bakersfield (that is only a comment about the heat Malloys). Anyway, I am super tired and am going to go to sleep and maybe get a full nights rest. I love you all and will spend some time uploading more pics tomorrow.
Rachel
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Salamanca
Hiya,
So my bus ride went well for the most part, I woke up a few times feeling as though my neck would never function the same way again, but other than that it was really easy and went by pretty fast. While some people have said that I should take buses or trains during the day so that I can see the countryside, I feel that traveling at night is better because a) I don't have to pay for a hostel that night and b) I can sleep for most of it so it makes the 8-12hour rides go by faster.
When I first arrived in Salamanca it was 6:45 am and it was still dark so I just hung out in the cafeteria reading and watching t.v. until it was light enough to walk to my hostel. I got a little lost but I got to see the city as the sun was just coming over the ancient buildings that are all over the place here. Anyways, I have only been here for a little more than 24 hours and I have already taken over 300 pictures. Obviously I cannot post them all, I wish there was a way that I could, but it just takes so long to load so I am going to post as many as I can. Actually, does anyone know how photo bucket or something like that, in which I could post all of my pics, works?
Oh, I forgot to mention that later in the day I was out walking around looking at the outside of the Salamanca University and this little old man came up to me and told me that I wasn't going to be able to find what I was looking for (you will see it in one of the pictures) that far away from the building and so he walked me closer and then proceeded to tell me the entire history of the building and all of the amazing facts about it. I ended up spending almost three hours with him walking around the city and listening to him talk about the history of the buildings, the city, and many other things. He is so knowledgeable about the history of this city and told me that it is because he just loves history and art. But he also has friends that are professors of history, art, and art history at the University so I am sure that is part of it as well. He also was a teacher so there you go. Alrighty, here are some pics.
So my bus ride went well for the most part, I woke up a few times feeling as though my neck would never function the same way again, but other than that it was really easy and went by pretty fast. While some people have said that I should take buses or trains during the day so that I can see the countryside, I feel that traveling at night is better because a) I don't have to pay for a hostel that night and b) I can sleep for most of it so it makes the 8-12hour rides go by faster.
When I first arrived in Salamanca it was 6:45 am and it was still dark so I just hung out in the cafeteria reading and watching t.v. until it was light enough to walk to my hostel. I got a little lost but I got to see the city as the sun was just coming over the ancient buildings that are all over the place here. Anyways, I have only been here for a little more than 24 hours and I have already taken over 300 pictures. Obviously I cannot post them all, I wish there was a way that I could, but it just takes so long to load so I am going to post as many as I can. Actually, does anyone know how photo bucket or something like that, in which I could post all of my pics, works?
Oh, I forgot to mention that later in the day I was out walking around looking at the outside of the Salamanca University and this little old man came up to me and told me that I wasn't going to be able to find what I was looking for (you will see it in one of the pictures) that far away from the building and so he walked me closer and then proceeded to tell me the entire history of the building and all of the amazing facts about it. I ended up spending almost three hours with him walking around the city and listening to him talk about the history of the buildings, the city, and many other things. He is so knowledgeable about the history of this city and told me that it is because he just loves history and art. But he also has friends that are professors of history, art, and art history at the University so I am sure that is part of it as well. He also was a teacher so there you go. Alrighty, here are some pics.
This is the museum that is attached to the San Esteban Church
This is the San Esteban Church. I went inside it later with the little man I met and this is what it looked like. I wasn't supposed to take pictures because there was a service going on but it was so spectacular that I couldn't help it.
I thought this was cool even though it is a sewage thing.
This is a Roman bridge that crosses over a lagoon area.
The New Cathedral
Side View of the New Cathedral
This is backside of the New Cathedral.
Up-close pic of what is above the door of the New Cathedral. All of the following pictures are from inside the New Cathedral.
This is the Plaza Mayor. My hostel is really close to here. Well, my hostel is really close to everything here.
This is the other side of the Plaza Mayor. These buildings surround the Plaza so it is pretty much enclosed by them.
This is the top of Palacio Monterey.
This is the Palacio Monterey.
This is the San Benito church. Yesterday I found this on my own and then Miguel brought me back and showed me something that I never would have noticed.
This is the Casa de las Conchas, which means the house of shells because all of those bump looking things are shells. Now it is a library. But the inside views are spectacular.
This is from the inside plaza area. The picture on the right shows the Clerecía, which is an amazing church.
Almost all of the palaces and churches have gargoyles or mythical creatures surrounding the tops.
Ok, I have many more pics that I want to upload but I need to go get a snack. I'll post some more later. The internet access that I have at this hostel makes uploading much easier. Hope you enjoyed these ones so far though.
Rachel
Friday, August 12, 2011
Hello!
Hi ~
So, I am so sorry that it has taken so long to write anything to you guys. I have had very little internet access the past few weeks and have only been able to quickly check emails and things like that.
The girls in the pictures are Alison and Rosellen. They are by far my two best girl friends here. Reid is the other person that I love the most and I will post a pic with him soon.
So today is my last day in Cádiz and we are all getting ready to leave. It is really crazy and somewhat surreal that I have already been here for a month and that all of the people that I become really close with are now going separate ways. Some people are going to Italy, others to Portugal, a couple to France and then some of us are traveling throughout Spain. Originally, I wanted to go out of the country and explore Europe but I have realized that I am in Spain to be in Spain. And now, I am super excited. I am starting my travels by going from Cádiz to Salamanca. It is a little bit north and west of Madrid. I am leaving tonight the 12th at 9:10 on a bus and will arrive tomorrow morning at 6:30ish. I will be staying at a hostel called Revolutum. It is close to the city center and that is where I will be spending most of my time. I am super excited to start going to museums and cathedrals and things like that by myself cause going with people that don't want to be there is not fun.
Classes ended well and I will get my grades in a few weeks, but I am sure everything turned out well. The culture class was interesting but it was a little long to sit through every day but I learned a lot about Spanish history. I do feel like the classes were in no way challenging but I am about to get my but kicked in Granada. For my culture final I had to write a free response about the artwork of an artist that we learned about and it took me a really long time and I am sure that there were a bunch os silly mistakes. I am going to start studying more and more once I am in Granada because I don't want to struggle with writing essays later on in the year.
Here are some pictures.
This was the sunset that we saw as we drove back from kayaking.
I went to the tallest tower in Cádiz and got to take all of these amazing pictures of the city from 45m in the sky.
I love you all and am going to upload some more pics in a few hours.
So, I am so sorry that it has taken so long to write anything to you guys. I have had very little internet access the past few weeks and have only been able to quickly check emails and things like that.
The girls in the pictures are Alison and Rosellen. They are by far my two best girl friends here. Reid is the other person that I love the most and I will post a pic with him soon.
So today is my last day in Cádiz and we are all getting ready to leave. It is really crazy and somewhat surreal that I have already been here for a month and that all of the people that I become really close with are now going separate ways. Some people are going to Italy, others to Portugal, a couple to France and then some of us are traveling throughout Spain. Originally, I wanted to go out of the country and explore Europe but I have realized that I am in Spain to be in Spain. And now, I am super excited. I am starting my travels by going from Cádiz to Salamanca. It is a little bit north and west of Madrid. I am leaving tonight the 12th at 9:10 on a bus and will arrive tomorrow morning at 6:30ish. I will be staying at a hostel called Revolutum. It is close to the city center and that is where I will be spending most of my time. I am super excited to start going to museums and cathedrals and things like that by myself cause going with people that don't want to be there is not fun.
Classes ended well and I will get my grades in a few weeks, but I am sure everything turned out well. The culture class was interesting but it was a little long to sit through every day but I learned a lot about Spanish history. I do feel like the classes were in no way challenging but I am about to get my but kicked in Granada. For my culture final I had to write a free response about the artwork of an artist that we learned about and it took me a really long time and I am sure that there were a bunch os silly mistakes. I am going to start studying more and more once I am in Granada because I don't want to struggle with writing essays later on in the year.
Here are some pictures.
I went to the tallest tower in Cádiz and got to take all of these amazing pictures of the city from 45m in the sky.
I love you all and am going to upload some more pics in a few hours.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Bolonia and an Olive Oil Mill/Tasting
Hello again. Here are the pictures from last weeks cultural excursion. We went to a city called Bolonia which consisted of an entirely white washed community on the side of a hill that looked out over the aqueduct. At the top of the hill was the ruins of the old castle/fortress. Then we went to an olive oil mill and got to walk around and learn about the process of making different kinds of olive oil. And then... I got to taste it will some freshly baked bread. A nice surprise of fresh local cheese, their home made wine, and some nice prosciutto to help enhance the flavors of the olive oil. They also brought out an amazing tortilla, not the kind that any of you are thinking of. The closest thing I can think of is a quiche but that isn't really right. It is a fluffy egg thing with cheese and potatoes usually. Sometimes they put onions, bell peppers or chiles in it also. No matter what they decide to put in it they are usually quite good but these ones were absolutely amazing. I hope you all can enjoy the pictures without getting to jealous or hungry. LOVE YOU ALL!
Oh... I forgot that I also got to go to a special/private presentation on Flamenco with my culture class on Thursday. It was one of the coolest things I have done so far. I have never felt so much emotion come through a singers voice or the music itself. The guitar player was incredibly talented and the singers voices were like nothing I have ever hear, except for things online, which in no way do the singers justice. I will try to upload a video but it might have to be its own post.
Love,
Rachel
I have been trying to upload pictures for over an hour and this is the only one that cam all the way through. Sorry. I will try to get more up in the next few days.
Oh... I forgot that I also got to go to a special/private presentation on Flamenco with my culture class on Thursday. It was one of the coolest things I have done so far. I have never felt so much emotion come through a singers voice or the music itself. The guitar player was incredibly talented and the singers voices were like nothing I have ever hear, except for things online, which in no way do the singers justice. I will try to upload a video but it might have to be its own post.
Love,
Rachel
I have been trying to upload pictures for over an hour and this is the only one that cam all the way through. Sorry. I will try to get more up in the next few days.
A quick hello
Hi Everyone,
Sorry I haven't posted any pictures for a while. I have been having trouble accessing the internet and then I got a cold a few days ago so I just slept all day yesterday and am trying to get the little work that I have to do for my classes done in the next few days. But pictures will be coming soon. Promise.
Rachel
Sorry I haven't posted any pictures for a while. I have been having trouble accessing the internet and then I got a cold a few days ago so I just slept all day yesterday and am trying to get the little work that I have to do for my classes done in the next few days. But pictures will be coming soon. Promise.
Rachel
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